SANDY WAR MEMORIAL

Extract from 'The Sandy Household Magazine' no 217 dated November 1914:

"....Mr F BRAYBROOKS of Carter Street, has been informed that his son Harold Frank has been killed in action. The deceased was a private in the 2nd Battalion of the Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment and from a letter received from a comrade who assisted to bury him, it appears that he was on observation duty in the trenches......"

Thanks to Iain Martin for this information

From various cuttings:

Cutting 1

KILLED IN ACTION

We regret to record that Pte. Harry Gaylor, Northcroft Sandy of the Seaforth Highlanders was killed in action on March 22nd which has been confirmed by an official communication from the record office Perth. He joined the army in January 1915 and had been in France about 3 years. He had been in many engagements at Loos, Ypres, Cambrai and at Albert. He was buried and had to be dug out and was accidentally injured in the back by a pick when being released. He was wounded 3 times. The relatives have received the sympathy of the King and Queen. He was the fourth son of Mr Walter Gaylor, of Northcroft, who had six sons five of whom are serving in the army, viz: trooper Herbert Gaylor who is in Salonica, Bandmaster Albert Gaylor who is with the Canadians at Folkstone and Driver Walter Gaylor and Pte. Frank Gaylor who are serving in France. The deceased Pte. Harry Gaylor, was an enthusiastic footballer before joining the Army and when home on leave some time ago was as keen as ever on the game. The many letters of sympathy received by his father and sister, for which they are very grateful, plainly show how much he was respected. The following is a copy of a letter received on April 16th:

Surgical House, Baschurch Shrewsbury – Dear Miss Gaylor, in reply to your letter of 13th inst. I would have written to you before with regard to your brother had I known your address. I am sorry to tell you there are no hopes of your brother Harry being only wounded. I wish there were as I have lost my best pal. From information I received from a chap in his section he was struck with shrapnel and died instantly without pain. It grieves me very much to tell you this as Harry and I, when we were together, were like brothers. I only wish he had been as lucky as me. My wound is getting on fine although …………………….

Cutting 2

...from Sandy, age 21 years no 200896 of the 31st Division Seaforth Highlanders, was killed in action on March 22nd. He joined the army in January 1915 and had been in France about 3 years. He had been in many engagements at Loos, Ypres and Cambrai. At Albert he was buried and had to be dug out, and was accidentally injured in the back by a pick when being released. He was wounded three times. The relatives have received letters expressing the sympathy of the King and Queen. Mr Gaylor has six sons, five of whom are serving in the Army viz: trooper Herbert Gaylor (who is in Salonica), Bandmaster Albert Gaylor (who is with the Canadians), and Driver Walter Gaylor and Pte. Frank Gaylor (serving in France). The deceased, Pte. Harry Gaylor, was an enthusiastic footballer before joining the Army, and when home on leave some time ago was as keen as ever on the game. The many letters of sympathy received by his father and sister (for which they are very grateful) show how much he was respected. The following is a copy of a letter received on April 16th:-

Surgical House,
Baschurch
Shrewsbury.

Dear Miss Gaylor, in reply to your letter of 13th inst. I would have written to you before with regard to your brother had I known your address. I am sorry to tell you there are no hopes of your brother Harry being only wounded. I wish there were as I have lost my best pal. From information I received from a chap in his section he was struck with shrapnel and died instantly without pain. It grieves me very much to tell you this as Harry and I, when we were together, were like brothers. I only wish he had been as lucky as me. My wound is getting on fine although I have lost the use of my left hand, and I am afraid they will not be able to restore it again. Please accept my deepest sympathy in losing such a good son and brother.

Yours very sincerely
JACK KNAPE (200663)

(With thanks to Geoff Gaylor for this information)

Lance Sergeant 3/7514, 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Died of wounds at home Sunday 18th October 1918. Born Beeston, enlisted and resident Bedford. Buried in SANDY CEMETERY, Bedfordshire. Section C. Grave 242.

From the local North Bedfordshire Courier newspaper 1st November 1918:

THE LATE SERGEANT A. GENTLE.—As briefly announced in last week's Courier, the funeral (with full military honours) of the late Sergt. A. Gentle, took place at Sandy on Wednesday afternoon in last week. The body, enclosed in a polished elm coffin, was conveyed from the Hospital at Chelsea, and arrived at his home on Beeston Green on Tuesday. The funeral took place, as stated above, on Wednesday afternoon, when detachments from his old Regiment, the 2nd Bedfordshire., and the R.E. (Signal Depot), stationed at Sandy and Biggleswade with a gun carriage drawn by six fine black chargers, arrived at the home of the deceased...

From the Marquis de Ruvigny's Roll of Honour, Volume 1, Part 2 , Page 144, the following:

GRAVES, Walter Francis, Lieutenant, 3rd (Reserve) attached 1st Bedfordshire Regiment. Eldest son of W.Graves. Gazetted Lieutenant 3rd Bedfordshire Regiment in 9-14 having previously been a 2nd Lieutenant in the same Regiment. Served in the Expeditionary force in France and Flanders, killed in action 9-11-14.

Extract from 'The Sandy Household Magazine' no 217 dated November 1914:

"..On November 16th, a message was received at Sandye Place, stating that Lieutenant Francis GRAVES, 3rd Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment and since attached to the Ist Batt. Bedfordshire Regiment Expeditionary Force, had been added to the Roll of Honour. He was the eldest son of the late Mr.Walter Graves, of Sandye Place. He was educated at Harleybury College and was some years an officer in the Bedfordshire Militia. For some considerable time he resided at Cardiff where he was a member of the Coal Exchange. On the outbreak of the war, he offered his services which were accepted and he volunteered for the front. His age was 30 years. He was well known in Sandy and much respected by all who knew him and much sympathy is expressed for Mrs Graves (his mother) and his brother and sister in their sad bereavement..."

Extract from THE BOND OF SACRIFICE VOLUME 1 August to December 1914:

LIEUTENANT WALTER FRANCIS GRAVES, 3rd (attd. 1st) BATTN. BEDFORDSHIRE REGIMENT, who was killed in action on the 9th November, 1914, at the age of twenty-nine, was the eldest son of Mrs. W. Graves, Sandye Place, Sandy, Bedfordshire.

He was appointed Lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion of his Regiment in September, 1919, having previously been a 2nd Lieutenant in the same battalion.

Lieutenant Graves was a member of the Cardiff City Council and of the Coal Exchange, and was interested in educational work.

No further information currently

[Arthur Frederick on SDGW & CWGC] Lance Corporal [Private SDGW] 30546, Bedfordshire Yeomanry. Killed in action Tuesday 5th November 1918 in France & Flanders. Age 24. Enlisted Bedford, resident Sandy. Son of Thomas and Millicent Huckle, of St. Neots Rd., Sandy. Buried in LANDRECIES BRITISH CEMETERY, Nord, France. Section A. Grave 25.

Private 19073, 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. Killed in action Sunday 30th July 1916 in France & Flanders. Born and resident Sandy, enlisted Biggleswade. Buried in QUARRY CEMETERY, MONTAUBAN, Somme, France. Plot I. Row G. Grave 6.

From the local North Bedfordshire Courier newspaper 1st November 1918:

KILLED IN ACTION. — Mrs. Ellis F. Merryweather, the only surviving daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Bead, the Brewey House, Sandy, has received the following letters :-18th October, 1918, 1644, L.-Sergt. H. B. Wood, 13, Platoon L.F. Co.—Dear Madam, "I thought you would like to hear from someone who was standing by your husband when he met his death. But, firstly, I wish to convey my deepest sympathy along with the remainder of the boys of the 13th Platoon which Sergt. Merryweather was in command of. We are all so grieved at the loss of him. He was well liked by his Platoon, and was a good, brave soldier, and throughout the day he had led his Platoon most gallantly and did splendid work. The sad incident happened in some street fighting. He and myself were caught in some German machine-gun fire. You will be pleased to know that your husband suffered no pain as he was killed instantly. I escaped with a few holes in my clothing and equipments. We can only extend to you our deepest sympathy in your great sorrow and loss. Trusting God will give you strength and courage to bear this, I remain, yours sincerely, H. B. WOOD, Scots Guards, B.E.F., France.-15/10/18. To Mrs. Merryweather, the Brewery, Sandy. Bedfordshire.—Dear Madam, —It is with deep regret that I write to inform you of the death in action of your husband, L.-Sergt. E. F. Merryweather, No. 13228, Left Flank Company. On Sunday morning, 13th inst., he was struck by a burst of machine-gun fire and killed immediately. This morning I saw L.-Sergt. Wood and Pte. Bowler who were close to him when he fell, and they assure me that he can have suffered no pain at all. His comrades spoke very highly of him. He had won the esteem of his officers and the goodwill of all his comrades, and now he has fallen on the Field of Honour, and leaves with us all the memory of a gallant soldier in our great cause. Please accept my sincere sympathy with you in your deep sorrow. The Commanding Officer, Lieut.-Col. J. Stirling, D.S.O., M.C., wishes me to oonvey to you his sincere sympathy. I have given your address to L.-Sergt. Wood, and you will probably hear from him also. I trust you will be enabled to support this heavy trial.—Yours sincerely, GEORGE D. LOW, Chaplain —Scots Guards.—Prior to the war, Sergt. Merryweather was in business first at Sandy and then at Ampthill as a hairdresser. Almost immediately on the outbreak of the war he decided to do his bit, and joined the Scots Guards. He has been engaged in a great deal of the fighting. He has been in France nearly the whole time, excepting when invalided home suffering from a bad attack of trench feet and when wounded in the neck and leg. He leaves a widow and one daughter.

Fusilier, 14689811, 6th Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers. Died on Thursday 21st September 1944. Son of Joseph Baden Jarvis and Eliza Jarvis, of Sandy. Buried in SANDY CEMETERY, Bedfordshire. Section D. Grave 234.

Private, 14271683, 257 Company, Pioneer Corps. Died on Sunday 25th March 1945. Age 32. Son of Frank and Ellen Jeeves, of Sandy; husband of Hilda Irene Jeeves, of Sandy. Buried in GOIRLE ROMAN CATHOLIC CEMETERY, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands. Row 3. Grave 8.

Private 5948584, 5th Battalion, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment. Died 4 September 1939. Buried in Sandy Cemetery, Bedfordshire. Section G. Grave 47.